Page 72 of Night Meets the Elf Queen (The Elf Queen #4)

“As long as it’s strong.” She fumbled through a stack of rolled up, yellowed papers from the corner cubby shelf, took one, then made her way over to the table Valeen sat at.

The chair legs scraped loudly against the wood floor, as if she did it on purpose then she plopped into her seat, smugly.

Umm what is she holding? Valeen chuckled nervously and started biting her nails. She wasn’t even a nail-biter either.

Hel pulled a few different bottles from the shelves and with a flick of his fingers three silver goblets appeared—one with rubies, one with amethyst, and the other with emeralds glittered on the outside.

He poured a few different liquors he’d taken from the shelf into a separate glass, squeezed in fruit she had no idea where he’d gotten, then snapped his fingers and a silver flask appeared.

She recognized the primordial letters across the center, revealing it was a light, sweet spirit used for adding flavor to drinks from Runevale.

He must have had it stored in the aether.

He was not just dropping clues about who he was, he was practically spelling it out for her.

Valeen bounced her leg under the table. “So, Aunt Evalyn, how’s business?”

“Booming.”

“Has something changed?”

“Yeah, the pale ones aren’t attacking. People are out spending their coin. I’ve even had a few elves in here say they wanted to come to see Layala Lightbringer’s human caretaker.”

“That’s interesting. I wonder why they aren’t attacking anymore?” Hel said, smirking.

“Yes, I wonder ,” Valeen said through her teeth.

“Maybe someone asked the Black Mage very politely to stop them.”

“Or maybe someone did ask nicely, and the Black Mage was an asshole about it and told her she didn’t look good begging .”

He licked his lips while he poured the purple liquid into the large mixing cup, stirring the concoction with magic by rubbing his thumb and forefinger together.

Then with a flick of his fingers ice balls tinkered into the goblets.

“Maybe she wasn’t being very nice to him at that time, but he stopped them anyway. ”

“We could go on about ‘maybes’ all day, but we don’t really know.” She gave Aunt Evalyn a nervous smile.

She scowled back.

“Oh, but don’t we? Hypothetically, of course.

Maybe it’s because he is in love with this someone who made the request. Maybe he would do anything for her, even if they were enemies.

” With a careful hand, he poured the mixture over the ice, then carried them over.

He set Aunt Evalyn’s down first, then Valeen’s, then his own.

Before Hel even sat down Aunt Evalyn slapped the rolled-up paper she had kept tucked away onto the table and pointed to the headline of the Palenor Scroll: Is Layala Lightbringer’s True Mate the Black Mage?

It was an old article written by the now-handless and tongueless Telvian Botsberry. Bloody All Mother above. Valeen let out a long breath, picked up the goblet, brought it to her lips, and took a long drink.

“You think I didn’t know exactly who he was the moment I saw him?

As if you’d leave Thane for some random elf?

I own a bar, Layala, I hear talk. You think I didn’t figure out that the person you were training your magic with was him?

Or that the mysterious masked stranger you danced with at the ball, that had everyone talking several months back, wasn’t the man who has wanted you for your powers?

” Aunt Evalyn threw her hand toward him.

“As if any elf in Palenor has runes and tattoos everywhere besides the Black Mage.” The runes showed clearly on his neck and his forearms. She turned to him with her wild eyes.

“And if you were trying to hide it you did a terrible job, Mr. Black . And wasn’t your surname Everhath ? ”

She’s done her homework. “You’re not frightened of me at all, are you?” Hel couldn’t hold back his smile, bringing out the dimple on his cheek.

“My daughter is a reincarnated goddess. What would I be scared of?”

“Fair point. Well, I’m afraid you are right, Evalyn. And Everhath was the name of my elven blacksmith father. I really am just a humble elf from a modest upbringing.”

Valeen let out a ha . Says the elf with “KING” tattooed across his skin.

Hel smiled and went on, “Although, you were wrong about one thing, Evalyn, I didn’t want her for her powers.”

“Well, I know that because she is no fool! If you only wanted to use her, she’d have figured that out, and the last thing she would have done is marry you!” Aunt Evalyn balked and snatched up the goblet. “Maker, help us.” Then she tipped the goblet back and took a drink and kept drinking.

Hel grimaced. “I don’t know if I’d do that. You said you wanted it strong.”

Aunt Evalyn raised her brows, taking that as a challenge, she finished the drink in under five seconds flat.

“I’ve been drinking booze for fifty years.

Don’t insult me thinking I can’t handle my liquor, Mr. Black.

In fact, I need another, and I’ll get this one myself.

” She moved with a bit of a sway back to the bar.

“Gods, you two are more alike than I could have ever guessed. Stubborn, mouthy, and rude. Not a single ‘thank you’ was uttered in there.”

Valeen nearly choked on her own saliva and snapped her head in his direction. “Alright, let’s not?—”

Aunt Evalyn whirled just as she was about to step around the counter, pointing her finger right at him. “Don’t think I won’t toss you out of here like I’d do with any other chump giving me lip in my place.”

Valeen rubbed her temples. Why did she think this would go any other way than terrible?

Hel bit down on his lower lip, obviously trying not to laugh. He tilted his head toward Valeen. “You give this one a run for her money with that audacity. Make my day, I’d love to see you try, Miss Evalyn. I won’t even resist.”

Well, now she had to defend her aunt. “She might not be able to toss you out of here, but I can.”

“Oh, even better,” Hel purred, picked up his goblet, and took a sip. “Let the fun begin. Bring out the shadows along with that temper, pretty please. It will make things interesting later tonight.”

“If you think you’re getting anything from me later without some begging , you’re sorely mistaken.”

“We’ll see. I am quite irresistible. And I know you absolutely love my big, hard?—”

“Do not finish that sentence,” Valeen hissed. “And you say I’m rude. If anything, you’re quite annoying right now.”

“You’re only proving my previous points; stubborn, mouthy, rud—” Hel ducked right before the goblet he’d given Aunt Evalyn flew over his head. It crashed to the floor and thumped several times before settling across the room. “Damn, woman. That would have hurt.”

“That was the point!” Aunt Evalyn hollered.

“Maybe it’s the drink. Alcohol does bring out the monster in some.” He looked at Valeen. “You get a little more playful. Maybe you should drink up.”

“Maybe you should shut up before I throw it in your face.” She knew he was enjoying this. He liked to rile her.

“Ah, love, don’t do that. It would be a waste.

I saved that brandy wine for a special occasion, and here it is not even being appreciated.

And when was the last time either of you had ice?

And not even a mention of that, but of course I’m just the Black Mage.

Just a big fucking asshole.” He tsked and sipped his drink with a smile, as if this was the best time he’d had in a while.

“When did you marry this man?”

“I’m not a man,” Hel said. “I’m a god trapped in an elf’s body.”

Aunt Evalyn scoffed at his claim, and snatched a whisky from the counter and drank a slug of booze straight from the bottle.

“We were married before ,” Valeen clarified. “In my first life, when I was just Valeen, the goddess of night. I know it’s difficult to understand.”

“Oh, I understand perfectly. This is a new life, so you’re not actually married then? There’s a chance to end this nonsense. No ceremony has taken place since you were born as Layala, correct?” Aunt Evalyn took another sip.

Valeen sighed. “Well, technically no, we haven’t married since I was reborn but?—”

Hel downed his own drink and set his goblet loudly on the table. “Your aunt doesn’t even think we’re legitimate, and I get the impression your friends don’t either. Why don’t we have that wedding tonight—now?”

Valeen blinked at him. “ Now ?”

“Yes now, and right after I’ll take you upstairs and consummate it so everyone will hear and no one else can say we’re not actually married.”

Aunt Evalyn choked on her drink and grabbed a napkin to pat her mouth. “Did you just say consummate upstairs in my place?”

Valeen stared at him trying to figure out if he was serious. All Mother, he was. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “I don’t have a dress?—”

“He is the Black Mage ,” Aunt Evalyn crowed. “The Layala I know would never accept this. You can’t marry the elf who created the pale one curse, the very same who is responsible for the deaths of thousands of elves!”

“I’m not just Layala anymore.” Valeen had a bite in her tone for the first time. “If you took the time to get to know him, you’d like him. Hel is my soulmate. That is what my lily mark is from. He has the same, it happened thousands of years ago.”

“And here I thought Thane was your mate.”

“You know that bond was forced by magic. You used to hate that fact.”

“Fine. Marry the mass murderer, what do I know? But there will be absolutely no consummation of this marriage in my place.” She waved her hand dismissively and took another drink. “Stubborn as the day is long,” she muttered to herself and went out the back door to join the others outside.

“Oh, there will be many hours of consummation.” He smirked and kicked his feet up on the chair beside him. “If all you need is a dress,” he snapped his fingers and three different gowns appeared and floated next to the table, “take your pick.”